Five candidates vie to replace retired state Sen. Bill Emmerson

In this file photo, California State Sentor Bill Emmerson, (R-Redlands) listens to Greg Brittain of the Redlands during a meet with coalitions opposing amnesty, constituents and members of the Redlands Tea Party Patriots at his office in Redlands, CA. Nov. 20, 2013.
John Valenzuela/Staff Photographer

“I think I can assume those duties somewhat seamlessly as an extension of what I’m already doing,” he said.

Morrell said he helps businesses in two ways. First by supporting legislation in Sacramento aimed at lowering taxes and regulations to help current businesses and attract new ones to the region. Secondly, he said he works directly with businesses in the region to help them cut through rolls of government red tape.

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As owner of a real estate company, Morrell said he understands what it’s like to sign both the front and backs of paychecks.

Lonni Granlund, a Republican who is vice president of the Yucaipa Valley Water District board, echoed Morrell’s sentiment about signing both sides of paychecks.

She also ran a real estate company and managed 600 properties.

“I know what it’s like to be an employer in this economy,” Granlund said. “It’s tough.”

She admitted to not knowing all the answers, but she said if elected, she would talk to employers who left the state to determine why they departed and how to retain others.

Above all, Granlund cited her experience negotiating real estate deals as an example of her ability to work across the aisle, something Emmerson was known for in Sacramento.

Jeff Hewitt, the lone Libertarian of the group, also noted his communication skills as a formidable trait to establishing relationships with lawmakers of different parties.

Calimesa’s mayor pro tem and a swimming-pool digger, Hewitt said he will not be held to the desires of his party, if elected.

“I don’t care about getting re-elected,” he said. “I only care about getting up there and bringing light to some of these issues.”

The biggest concern to Hewitt is California’s “toxic business atmosphere.” He wants taxes, fees and regulations for businesses lowered.

He said the state is being run by people from the Bay Area and Southern California coastal areas who are happy to pass environmental restrictions without understanding their impacts on inland regions.

During a phone interview on Friday, Hewitt said prison realignment needs a makeover and investments should be made in airports and light rail instead of spending money on a bullet train.

The other mayor pro tem of the group is Crystal Ruiz of San Jacinto.

A Republican, she said she is running because the region needs more regular folks representing it in Sacramento.

Because jobs are hard to find, people in the region drive an hour or more to work and spend most of their money on gas, Ruiz said.

She plans to bring jobs to the region by meeting with experts in various industries, like film and information technology, to determine what the government can do to make the Inland Empire an attractive place to conduct business.

As mayor pro tem, Ruiz said she led the Film San Jacinto project, aimed at bringing film companies to her city, which will host its first event in February.

She said voters should elect her because she is one of them.

“I didn’t grow up the privileged life,” Ruiz said. “We deserve someone in the state Senate who is one of us.”

The only Democrat in the race thus far is Ameenah Fuller of Rancho Cucamonga, a government and health care consultant who lost election in the 25th District in 2012.

As a consultant, Fuller said she helped recover about $140 million to the Medicare fund while preventing fraud and abuse.

If elected she plans to spark the economy by offering tax credits to build “green” homes and promote health care education and vocational certificates.

As of Feb. 10, 41 percent of voters in the 23rd District were registered as Republicans and 34 percent identified themselves as Democrats, according to statistics posted on the California secretary of state’s website. Nearly one in five residents chose “no party preference.”

Special elections routinely have small voter turnouts.

If one candidate does not win a majority — 50 percent of the vote plus one — a runoff between the top two vote-getters will take place in the June election.